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borough." They were commissioned "to enquire here and
determyne in the Kinge's gen'all Cessions of Peace of all
man' of anoysances of bridges broken in the highe wayes
to the damage of the Kynges liege People; and to make
such pees and paynes upon every presentement afore them
for the reformacion of the same agayne such as owen to be
charged for the makynge or amendynge of such bridges."
The justices were also empowered to call the constables
to their assistance in fixing the responsibility for the
repair upon the inhabitants of "the Cittie or Towne Corporate
or Shire, or Ryddyne," and to apportion the cost of
the works upon the parties found to be liable. Where uncertainty
existed as to the shire, riding or hundred in which
the outlay was required, the Justices were authorized to
"taxe and settle every inhabitante to such reasonable ayde
and summe of money as they shall thynke convenient and
sufficient." Two collectors of the tax were to be appointed
for every hundred, and two surveyors of highways were
also to be appointed for the same area.
Further legislation took place in 2 and 3 Philip and Mary
(1556), when an Act (cap 8) was passed " for amending of
highways, being now both very noisome and tedious to travel
in and dangerous to all passengers and carriages." By this
measure the aid of the parishioners in Vestry assembled
is invoked, and the parish becomes a recognised area for
local administration.
(2) Be it enacted by the authority of this present parliament, that
the constables and churchwardens of every parish within this
realm, shall yearly upon the Tuesday or Wednesday in Easter
week call together a number of the parishoners, and shall then
elect and chuse two honest persons of the parish to be surveyors
and orderers for one year, of the works for amendment of the
highways in their parish leading to any market-town.
The surveyors and orderers so appointed were invested
with discretion as to what persons and conveyances should
be employed in repairing the roads. These officers were also
to name and appoint fourdaysfor the execution of the work,of
which notice was openly to be given in the Church the next